everhard



v UNITED) STATES- PATENT' Omen.

CHARLES J.. EvERHARD, or CANTON, OHIO.

i BIER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 256,472, dated April 18,1882;

Application tiled January 14, i882. (No model.) u A' To till 'whom it may concern Beit known that I, CHARLES J. Evenmin), a citizen of the United States, residing at Ganton, in-the county of Stark and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Biers, of which the following is a specification. j

My invention relates to improvements in biers, by means of. which eoftins can be lowered into a grave by one man turning a crank connected with shaftsfrorn which ropes are susp'ended; and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide the device with gears that will benoiseless in theiroperation; second, to provide the bier with wheels upon which it may be easily transported; third, to provide the same with longitudinally-adjustable.legs

lFig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the thimbles used upon the rope-winding shaft. f Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the two halves forniing one of the adjustable legs.

In said drawings', A represents the two side rails ofthe frame, terminating at one end into handles A', the transverse rails being shown at B and B'.

To -the rail B are secured two pendent arms, O, through the lower end of which the ends of the axleD pass in suitable bearings. Upon the axle Dare placed two wheels, E, adjoining the arms C, each wheel being preferably capable ot" rotating on the shaft independently of the ether, andv in this manner the forward part of the bier is supported.

To the rear rail, B', two legsF, are secured. To render theselegs longitudinally adjustable they are made of two parts, F and F2, the part F being secured to the rail' at f', while the lower end of vthe part F2 is intended to rest upon the ground. -Each part F and F2 is provided withracks, adapted to interlock with the other, and with a side ange,'f3, adapted to rest against the side of the otherand keep parts F' F2 in linen Theyare also provided with longitudinal slots f4, to receive a bolt, f5, capable of passing through both slots atonce', and said bolt is provided with a thumb-nut, f,

whereby the parts F F.2aresecurely united to- Y gether to form legs of any suitable length to :correet any unevenness in the suriaee'ofl the ground, and renderithe top of the bier per! fectly level over gravesmade in 'thegsides' of steep hills. To facilitate this accurateadjuse'l ment, similar extensible legs, F, are secured :to the ends of the side rails adjoining the wheels E. These legs are pivoted upon a bolt, f, provided with a thumb-nut, so that they can be folded either alongside of the rails, as shown in Fig. l, or with their free end'toward the front-,and be used as handles for the hier. In

the latter position they abut against the under side of the ledges b, projecting from the ends of the rail B. As it is desirable that the surface. of the bier lshould be perfectly level to keep the coffin in its descent from rubbing against the sides of the excavation and loosenin g gravel, &c., there is secured in the side and end rails spirit-levels g, to indicate which end or side of the apparatus should be raised' or lowered. y Y

The transverse rails B and B form the bearings for the shafts H, around which are wound the ropes I, used to sustain and loweracoiin These shafts are made of wood, andare provided with acentral rod, h, of square iron, extending preferably the whole length of the shaft, and forming the journals h for the latter. Upon one end of each square rod h is placed a cog-wheel, h2, having its eogs inclined, and

:adapted to mesh noiselessly with a worm formed upon or secured tothe transverse shaft K. Said shaft, carrying a right-hand Worm, k, and a left-hand worm, lc', will rotate at the same time, but in opposite directions, both shafts H. The shaft K passes through bean ings secured to the siderails, and is provided with a crank and handle, k2, to rotate the same.

manently to one of the shafts H, or by means of snap-hooks attached to said shaft; but it is desirable that the other end of the ropes should be easily detached froml the shaft by the per- Oneend of the ropes I may be secured per- ICO l n, used to secure one end ofthe ropes. Distinct pins n maybe used, as shown in Fig. 1, and the;r may be connected by a string secured to their end loops, and said string may extend to a point adjoining the operator; but I prefer to use a single rod, n2, as shown in Fig. 2, one end of said bolt securing one ofthe ropes,\vliilc the other rope is retained by a pintle, n3,

projecting from the side ot said rod. Both ropes can thus be released by a short pull upon the loop n4. There are shown only tivo thimbles, M g but a greater number can be used, so that the ropes may be secured at more or less distance apart, to sustain coftns of different lengths, and the rod n? should have a corre sponding number of pintl'es, n3. Along straight rod may be used to pass through all thetbimbles. It can then be introduced or removed from one end of the shafts. Said shafts are provided with longitudinal grooves h3, for the reception of the rope-retaining rods, and in the ends of the ropes are secured metal links i, that can be easily introduced into the ccntrai recess m of the thimbles, and receive the locking pins or rod used for the purpose of connecting the ropes to the shafts.

' This bier, being provided with wheels, can be easily transported by the sexton of a ceme tery or other person from the place where it may be kept over a newly-made grave,and its legs adjusted to obtain a perfectly level top, and they ropes being wound upon the shafts, as shown in Fig. l, the device is in proper condition to receive a coffin, and when the latter has been deposited upon the stretched ropes it can be lowered noiselessly and easily by a single person.

I am aware that prior to my invention rope-carrying rollers of biers have been conandere nected by transverse shafts having; og-wheels thereon, and have been operated by means oi' Having non' fully described my invention, l'

claim-- l. A bier composed of a rectangular trame, two rolls connected by ropes, and mechanism for rotating said rolls, with an axle and snp porting-wheels, E, placed under and connected with one end of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of' the rectangular frame of a bier, tivo rolls pivoted thereto, and carrying thimbles and worm-pinions, with a trans verse shaftearrying right and left hand worms meshing with the pinions on said rolls, substantially as and for the purposes described.

8. The combination, with the frame ot' a bier, ot legs therefor capable ot' longitudinal adjust` nient, and adapted to be folded against the sides of said frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of the frame of a bier, with legs made in sections and provided with interlocking racks, iianges, and slots, and a thnmb-nut, substantially as and for the purpose described. t t

5. The combination of tbc frainc of a bier, shafts H, and thimbles having a central recess, m, with ropes provided with links t', and a rod adapted to pass through said links and under the thimbles, substantially as and for the pur poses set forth.

6. The combination of the frame of a bier, provided with longitudwally-adjustable legs, with spirit-levels secured to the rails of said Trame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

CHARLES J. EVERHARD.

Witnesses:

Cona A. Evnnnnnn, OTTO P. Eventi/tno.

sst1 

